Rack attachment for bathtubs



Nov. 17, 1953 P. R. wiLuAMs 91 RACK ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Aug. 20, 1951 Hlllll Fig.2. 22 5 l4 l2 l8 ;6 V l IIHIIIIIIIILIIHII- l I V///] I /8 32 Fig. 3. J 1

Peter R. Williams INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STAT ENT DFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in racks, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a rack of the character herein described, which, in the nature of an attachment, may be easily applied to a conventional bathtub so as to support a wash pan in a position over the bathtub while small children are being washed.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction and in its adaptability for attachment to so-called built-in bathtubs with double side walls, as well as singlewalled tubs provided with an outturned upper edge.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention applied to a bathtub with double walls;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention applied to a single-walled bathtub with an outturned upper edge.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the invention consists of a rack attachment which is designated generally by the reference character In and embodies in its construction a horizontally disposed, substantially rectangular rack frame 12 including pairs of side members 14 and a pair of cross-members I 6, the members [4, 16 being reinforced by diagonal straps H3, as will be clearly apparent.

A pair of inverted, substantially U-shaped hooks 20 are provided on the rack frame l2, these books assuming the form of angulated extensions 22 which constitute continuations of the side members M, and substantially V-shaped pieces 24 which are secured to and project downwardly from the frame l2 so that they coact with the extensions 22 in defining the inverted U- shaped hooks 20, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The hooks 20 are adapted to engage the upper edge portion of the side wall of a bathtub 26, which side wall usually includes spaced inner and outer walls 28, 30, respectively, and a top edge wall 32 which connects the same together, the hooks 20 being of such a size as to be frictionally sustained in position on the side wall of the bathtub, for purposes of supporting a wash pan, or the like, on the rack frame I2. If desired, strips of rubber, or the like, 34 may be secured to the inner surfaces of the hooks 29, so as to assist in frictionally sustaining the hooks in position and, also, so as to prevent scratching or otherwise damaging the bathtub.

The modified embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying Figure 3 and is designated generally by the reference character 46 is substantially the same as the embodiment already described, with exception that the hooks 42 thereof are outwardly and downwardly arcuated so as to conform to the outwardly and downwardly arcuated upper edge portion 44 of a bathtub 45, on which the rack attachment 49 is intended to be used. Substantially vshaped members 48 are secured to and extend downwardly from the rack attachment to engage the inner surface of the tub, thus coacting with the hooks 42 in sustaining the rack attachment in place. Suitable rubber strips 59 are provided on the hooks 42 and members 38 to prevent scratching of the tub.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and, accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A rack for attachment to the edge of a bathtub comprising a substantially U-shap-ed fiat frame including opposite sides having terminal right angled depending portions, and depending V- shaped portions spaced. from said first named portions and forming therewith substantially U-shaped flat sided hooks on said opposite sides adapted to straddle said edge of the bathtub to hold said sides horizontal, and a cross member connected to said sides between said ll-shaped portions.

invention, what is PETER RICHARD WILLIAMS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 743,917 Palmatary Nov. 10, 1903 1,068,391 Jensen July 22, 1913 1,463,962 McClintock Aug. 7, 1923 1,669,026 Seibert May 8, 1928 1,683,526 Campbell Sept. 4, 1928 1,791,696 Alexander Feb. 10, 1931 2,181,543 Bentz Nov. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 458,543 Germany Apr. 14, 1928 

